The importance of systematic assessment of target behavior in the development of an assessment strategy for children is the cornerstone by which many parent-mediated interventions are conducted. To determine current practices of parent/child assessment and evaluation of treatment, directors of 112 community mental health clinics were surveyed. They rated the frequency of use of various assessment procedures, and compared systematic observation (defined as recordings of target behavior during parent-child interation) with other current assessment methods. Results indicated that informal and unsystematic methods of assessment, i.e., case notes, informal clinic observation and verbal or written reports by others, are the most commonly used. Systematic observation was judged to have a moderate advantage over other methods, especially the provision of clear directions for treatment and usefulness with children below age five, but was found to be least cost effective. Behavioral observation procedures currently have limited utility in applied settings, even though the data would be useful. (JAC)